Perhaps you’ve seen them already. Either in the grocery store, the barbershop, or just walking down the street.
They may not know exactly where they’re going or how they arrived here, but here they are. Not too long ago, they were living very ordinary lives just like us, with ambitions and dreams for the future, prospects and plans for careers, vacation plans and dreams about starting families. But that has all been swept away.
Ukrainians who have been displaced by Russia’s invasion have arrived in Squamish. While there are no official counts, local agencies and hosts say there are currently around 20. There will likely be more to come.
Astute readers may notice that we did not use the term “refugee.” And that is not an oversight. Under current federal regulations, all Ukrainians fleeing the war and arriving in Canada travel here under a special expedited work permit called the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel, or CUAET. While it has been an effective method of quickly getting Ukrainians into our country, it is not a formal refugee program. Displaced Ukrainians are not officially considered refugees, though they are certainly experiencing circumstances that should qualify them for that status.
As a result, they may not be privy to some of the benefits that refugees normally have.
To be clear, there have been a number of supports. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada told The 麻豆社国产 that settlement program services, which are typically only available to permanent residents, will soon be extended to displaced Urkainians until March 31, 2023.
The federal government has programs in place that will provide language training, orientations to Canadian life, help with accessing the labour market, and other settlement support services.
This includes an online portal through which Canadians businesses can offer high-priority goods and services to support displaced Ukrainians.
“[These are] extraordinary temporary measure[s] aimed at supporting Ukrainians arriving under this special, accelerated temporary residence pathway,” a government statement read.
However, Andrea Dunne of the 麻豆社国产Welcome Centre said that there are some concerns that have been raised about this program. For example, she said, Ukrainians arriving under CUAET cannot apply to the B.C. housing registry, which bars them from the provincial waitlist for income-based or below-market housing.
In a written statement, the province said that BC Housing is focused on creating short-term accommodations for Ukrainians immediately after they arrive.
Authorities said that to qualify for BC Housing’s registry, newcomers to British Columbia must be a refugee sponsored by the Government of Canada, an individual applying for refugee status, or an individual arriving to B.C. with a Canada-Ukrainian Authorization for Emergency Travel visa.
Those eager to help should check out some of the primary Facebook groups that Ukrainians are using to get their bearings here in Squamish.
麻豆社国产Stands with Ukraine is one example. Another important but less obvious place for locals to look is Vancouver Helps Ukrainians. Many Ukrainians are entering B.C. through Vancouver and are unaware that 麻豆社国产is a place where they can settle. Post on those forums. Let them know they can come to our town. Let them know they’re welcome here. Short-staffed local businesses may find a very motivated workforce in the form of newly-arrived Ukrainians, who will be in need of jobs and housing. Whatever you do, be it a gesture big or small, your efforts will not go unnoticed. In someone’s time of need, every little bit will help. Even just saying hello.
***Updated to include a provincial response regarding the housing registry.
